Ira Day August 7, 1934 - November 8, 2010

Ira Franklin Day, 76, lost his hard fought battle with melanoma and went home to be with his Lord and Savior, November 8, 2010 in Oklahoma City, OK. Ira was born to George and Mandy (Cox) Day in Kendrick, OK on August 7, 1934. At the age of 6, he moved with his family to California. Ira attended California Baptist College and transferred to Grand Canyon College, Phoenix, AZ where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree. He earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1965 from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at Louisville, KY. He was a charter member of the Magnolia Avenue Baptist Church in Riverside, CA

Rev. Day served as pastor of Southern Baptist churches for 44 years in various locations including Woodland, CA, Waterford, CA, Merced, CA and Lake Forest, CA, as well as pastor at an Indian reservation in Sedona, AZ. Ira went on mission trips to Sweden and Korea during his years in the ministry. He retired from the ministry at El Toro Baptist Church, Lake Forest, CA in 2000. He and his wife, Rama, resided in Hot Springs, AR until March, 2010 when they moved to Oklahoma City to be near family. Mr. Day enjoyed fishing, was an avid reader, enjoyed western movies, and collecting antique model cars. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Ira Day was preceded in death by his parents, George and Mandy Day; sister, Zelda Sparks; daughter, Karen Richmond; and his first wife, Phyllis Day (mother of his children). Ira is loved and will be missed by his wife, Rama Day, of the home in Oklahoma City, OK; daughters Susan (Mrs. Virgil) Atchison, Modesto, CA; Virginia â?oeGinnyâ??(Mrs. Donnie) Witt, Williamsburg, KY; and Cynthia â?oeCindyâ?? (Mrs. Randy) Luper, Monticello, AR. He is also survived by 2 stepsons and 2 stepdaughters: David (wife Patty) Green, Kansas City, MO; Daryl (wife Shawna) Green, Edmond, OK; Debra (Mrs. Tim) Roberts, Yukon, OK; and Dottie Crawford, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. He and Rama have 34 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ira is also survived by three brothers, Philip (wife Mertie) Day, Byron, CA; Kenneth (wife Bobbie) Day, Hayward, CA; and Jerry Day, Lodi, CA. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 13, 2010, at Quail Springs Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, OK. Buchanan Funeral Service, 8712 N. Council Road, Oklahoma City, OK (www.buchananfuneralservice.com) is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Gideons International Association for Bibles, or the Arkansas Baptist Children's Home, Monticello, AR.